Mammoth, Roughnecks Ready For Friday

By Lindsey McGuire / NLL.com Correspondent

Photo by Jack Dempsey / Colorado Mammoth 

The Colorado Mammoth (2-1) will host league rivals, the Calgary Roughnecks (1-1), Friday night, January 20th at the Pepsi Center. Both teams are riding high after Week 3 victories, but only one will continue their hot streak. Face-off is set for 7:30 P.M. MST (9:30 EST).

Colorado snagged the ‘W’ over the New England Black Wolves last week in a thrilling fight to the finish. New England Forwards Kevin Crowley and Shawn Evans kicked off the scoring with two quick goals in the first three minutes of the game, but the Mammoth weren’t far behind. Colorado Forwards Jacob Ruest and Jeremy Noble found the back of the net twice in just 39 seconds to put the Mammoth on the board. Colorado found a hot streak in the second quarter and dominated with 5 unanswered goals. The score was 7-3 at the half.

Mammoth goal leader Callum Crawford added to Colorado’s advantage early in the 3rd quarter, boosting the score to 8-3. Shortly after, Kyle Buchanan kicked off the comeback for New England. The Black Wolves would eventually close the gap by outshooting the Mammoth 15-7 in the fourth quarter. New England forward Pat Saunders forced the Mammoth into OT by tying the game up 10-10 at the tail-end of regulation. Colorado pulled off the win when Forward Eli McLaughlin lit up the Loud House with a first minute goal in overtime.

Calgary also found success, and even a little revenge, last week with a 14-10 victory over the Vancouver Stealth. Calgary Forward, Curtis Dickson, continued to prove himself as a team leader by bouncing back from a loss with a sock trick (6 goals) and an assist. He will certainly be on the Mammoth’s radar as they approach Friday’s bout.

Roughneck Forward, Dane Dobbie, should also be on the Mammoth’s watch list. After scoring one goal and setting up three others last week, Dobbie is just one goal away from attaining 300 goals in his NLL career. If he can make it happen at the Pepsi Center this week, fans will have the chance to be a part of a major historical moment. Dobbie would become the 25th player in NLL history to record 300 goals.

Mammoth players are reaching individual accomplishments of their own. Just two weeks ago, Eli McLaughlin reached a career high with four goals in one game. Callum Crawford echoed that number with four goals of his own on Saturday, and Colorado’s defense looked impressive as well. Goaltender Dillon Ward recorded 36 saves in the win over the Black Wolves. The Mammoth are currently tied with the Vancouver Stealth for first in the West Division standings.

Tickets for all Colorado Mammoth games can be purchased by visiting coloradomammoth.com or by calling (303) 405-1101.